After Drew Brees had the second most prolific passing season of any NFL quarterback in the history of the league in 2008, falling just 15 yards short of Dan Marino’s passing yardage record of 5,069 yards set in 1982, he came in sec0nd in voting for the MVP award to Colts QB Peyton Manning largely in part to the Saints 8-8 record that year.
Fast forward to the 2009 season, the Saints lead by Drew Brees reel off 13 wins in a row which is the most in franchise history, secure their first ever home field advantage while breaking their previous best mark for points scored in a season.
Brees threw for 4,388 yards, 34 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and set a new NFL record for completion percentage in a season completing 70.6 percent of his passes — sounds like an MVP type year to me.
Once again however he was passed over in favor of Peyt0n Manning who garnered a staggering 39 out of 50 votes balloted from the sports writers who cover the NFL and make up the MVP selection committee.
Manning has now been voted the league MVP four separate times, a new NFL record, surpassing the previous mark of three held by Brett Favre.
Really? Did Manning have that much of a better season than Brees to be voted for that lopsidedly?
Manning threw for 4,500 yards, 33 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and had a completion percentage of 68.8 percent — statistically Brees had the better season.
That’s not to discount what Manning has accomplished, he had a superb season for a quarterback and did lead his team to a perfect 14-0 record before being benched for the remaining two games after securing home field advantage through the play-offs.
But a better season he did not have.
MVP stands for most valuable player not most popular player and Brees definitively had a better season than Manning and was therefore the more valuable player, clearly Manning is the more popular.
No one knows what Drew Brees will have to do to garner an MVP award, maybe throw for 6,000 yards and 75 touchdowns — that should get their attention.
So here is to Drew Brees, the real NFL MVP.
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I’m gettin sick of this crap of how much better Peyton is than Drew. Manning has laid an egg in almost all of his playoff games. His career playoff record is 7-8. Even when they won the super bowl he threw more INTs than TDs in the playoffs. Peyton is not the greatest quarterback to ever live, nor will he ever be. Thats 1 reason I want brees to win a super bowl so badly. So people will shut up about how great peyton is. Manning cant throw well at all when he goes up against a 3-4 defense. Brees will just torch it. Brees has a 5,000 yard season. Yes manning is good, but he is NOT that much better than Brees.
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I GREW UP A SAINTS FAN ALL MY LIFE BACKIN DA RENALDO TURNBULL PAT SWILLING MORTEN ANDERSEN DAYS SO TOO ALL YOU CRITICS EAT SOME GUMBO CORNBREAD PEACH COBBLER AND WAHCT US PULL A RABBIT OUT OUR HAT !
Cry me a river. Brees is great, but he didn’t win the MVP. Hmm…it probably had something to do with the fact that he lost to…Tampa Bay. I mean Tampa Bay. 20 unanswered points. Meanwhile, Manning lost to….nobody. Undefeated as a starter in the entire game. Nuff said.
Peyton’s last name got hime the MVP. Drew Brees is the best QB in the NFL. So what if they lost the last 3 games, the stats speak for themselves. Thanks to Drew and the rest of the Saints team for making us proud!!!! We love you no matter what.
Have you considered that Manning led 7 4th quarter game-winning drives, a new single-season record, while Brees choked in the nationally televised Cowboys game? What about the fact that Brees had the 6th best rushing attack to take some pressure off while Manning had the worst? Or perhaps that Manning never lost a game that he completed? Or that Manning calls his own plays and is basically the teams offensive coordinator? I am not discounting what Brees has accomplished. He is a great quarterback and I enjoy watching him play. But you can’t honestly say that Manning did not deserve this award. With the worse rushing attack and with greater play-calling responsibility, Manning does more for the Colts than Brees does for the Saints.
Also, people seem to confuse the Offensive Player of the Year with the MVP. Great stats get you Offensive Player of the Year. Stats are only a portion of the things considered for MVP. When Brees call his own plays and has a terrible rushing attack, then he will be the hands down winner. He is certainly talented enough. But until then, just be happy with a great 13-3 season and a likely Super Bowl appearance.
Ha ha you said terrible rushing attack. No sir, check the stats. Yes they rank last but that is total yards per game for the season. Colts outran the Jets who ranked first all season long on Sunday or did you forget? (FYI I know they were minus green most the game, that’s beside the point). Choosing not to run the ball is entirely different from not being able to run the ball. Truth is they had one of the most effective running games this season but the talking heads in the media would never tell that. Check rushing tds 12th, fumbles third (per carry about 14th I’d guess), or any percentage stat not total. Colts are nowhere near the bottom in any category save for yards per carry. And yes you can attribute its effectiveness to the potency of the passing game a la Peyton but the same could be said for his success due to his o-line. You do realize he was sacked only 7 times all season. I don’t care if Jesus, the Easter bunny, Trixs rabbit, Vin diesel, and Oprah Winfrey are calling your plays and blocking schemes while the Holy Spirit divinely relays them to Peyton wirelessly. Picking up on blitzes and blocking effectively can only be attributed to the man doing it not the so called mad-hatter puppeteer Manning. Freeny, Ware, Allen could tell what they were going to do prior to every snap and 9 times outta 10 still be effective as most decent d-ends in the NFL. Not to mention guys like Dallas Clark who blocks and blocks well > Shockey and, Reggie Wayne> Colston by far, and your boys Garcon and Collie stack up against Henderson and Moore or Meach. Just like with the Line you can make the most accurate perfectly timed throw ever the wide out still has to catch it. Check wide out drops Mannings vs. Brees I’m sure you’ll see a disparity. So if he has the best o-line of the last decade, top notch probably most well rounded TE (AG and VD can’t block like Clark, Fantastic 1st option and solid down the line, effective running attack calls his own plays, and throws the ball much more than Brees. Why do his stats not compare? Bow down at the shrine of Breesus. I think you owe that man an apology and give yourself some reality while you’re at it. Let Peyton’s Jock go. Come on Brees is so good this guy threw an interception for a td. Now that takes talent. :p